2. The matter itself ; it commends itself to our consciences by the manifestation of the truth : 2 Cor. iv. 2, ' Approving yourselves by the word of truth,' 2 Cor. vi. 7. If the heart be not strangely perverted, and become an incompetent judge by obstinate atheism and corrupt affections, it cannot but own these truths to be of God : ' If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost,' 1 Cor. iv. 4.
3. The end of it, which is to regulate man and sanctify man. Now it were strange if he should be made better by a lie and a cheat: John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them by thy truth ; thy word is truth.' Certainly it is the most convenient instrument to reduce man to his wits, and ?nake him live like a man.
4. It pretends to be the law of God ; it is so, or else it would be the greatest cheat in the world ; for it speaketh to us from God all along, and by virtue of his authority. None can be so brutish as to think that the wisest course of doctrines that ever the world was acquainted with is a mere imposture.
Use 1. To commend the word of God to us ; we cannot have true doctrine, nor true piety, nor true consolation without the scriptures. Not true doctrine : Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, there is no light in them.' It is to be condemned of falsehood, if not according to the word. You cannot have true holiness, for holiness is but scripture digested and put in practice, James i. 18. The foundation of the spiritual life is laid in the word ; scripture faith and scripture repentance are still fed by the word. It teacheth us how to believe, and how to repent, and how to pray, and how to live, especially the heavenly life ; and there
14 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLX.
can be no true comfort and peace without the word : Rom. xv. 4, ' That ye through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope/
Use 2. 1. We should consider the truth of the word, partly in the general, for the strengthening and settling of our faith, and to make it more clear and solid and certain: Eph. i. 13, 'In whom ye trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth.' When boisterous temptations would carry us to some evil, which God hath forbidden and severely threatened, that the point of the sword of the Spirit be put to the bosom of it, Deut. xxix. 19, 20.
2. When you are settling your souls as to the main point of accep- tance with God : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sin- ners, of whom I am chief.' The word will never deceive them that seek righteousness there.
3. When difficulties arise that oppose the promise or expectation of relief according to the promise, you should urge the truth of the word in the very face of difficulty: ' Thy law is truth.' Take Paul's in- stance, Acts xxvii. God by promise gave all that sailed with Paul in the ship their lives, yet how many difficulties came to pass ! At first, when they Avere in the Adriatic Sea for so many days and nights, and had neither seen sun nor stars, they knew not where they were, nor whither they should go ; here was little appearance of God's making good his word to Paul. Another difficulty fell out, they feared they were near some country ; they sounded and found they were near some land, but what land they could not conjecture, and were afraid of being split in pieces against the rocks ; but the shipmen, that knew the danger of these seas, they must go out of the ship, they would make use of their long boat, and so they were ready to miscarry in the sight of the land, but Paul prevented them. And after it was day, the men were so spent because of long fasting and conflicting with the waves, they could not ply the oar. Another difficulty, they were where two seas met ; they ran the ship aground and resolved to kill Paul and the rest of the prisoners, lest they should swim to land ; but the captain, willing to save Paul, prevented that purpose ; and so at length they came all to shore, though followed with difficulty upon difficulty. God made good his promise to a tittle, ver. 44. Pray observe how Paul urged God's promise against the greatest difficulties, as sufficient ground of encouragement to expect relief : ver. 25, ' For I believe God, that it shall be even as it wras told me.'
SERMON CLX.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, yet thy commandments are my delights. — Ver. 143.
In the words we have —
1. David's temptation, trouble and anguish have taken hold of me.
2. David's exercise under that temptation, thy commandments are my delight.
VER, 143.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 15
3. The benefit of that exercise, notwithstanding the greatness of the temptation, yet. It is propounded with a non obstante.